Mars Hill: The rise and fall of a Seattle church and its charismatic leader

Originally published September 13, 2014 at 3:53 pm
Updated February 4, 2016 at 5:19 pm

After 18 years of explosive growth, officials at Mars Hill Church in Seattle said that financial pressures are forcing staff cuts and elimination of some branches. The announcement follows Pastor Mark Driscoll's decision to step away from the pulpit for six weeks.

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Mars Hill Church founder Mark Driscoll’s style charmed many. He was dynamic and funny, with a potent mix of reverence for Jesus and irreverence for everything else. But behind the scenes, former church members said, Driscoll could be abusive and controlling. Flip through the timeline below to learn more about Driscoll and the church he led, then click here to read more.